Method of and apparatus for treating tobacco



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,989

' W. MILLIGAN ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING TOBACCO FiledJuly 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. MILLIGAN ET AL METHOD 0F AND APPARATUSFOR TREATING TOBACCO 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 25, 1925 Patented Dec. 4,1928.

UNITED STATES 1,693,989 PATENT oFFICE.

WILLIAM MILLIGAN AND WILEY E. PALMER, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNORS T0THE IMPERIAL TOBACCO CO., OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, A CORPORA- TIONOF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND'.

METHOD OF AND A PPA'RATUS FOR. TREATING TOBACCO.

Applicationled July 25, 1925. Serial No. 46,056.

The lpresent invention relates to new and useful improvements in thetreatment of tobacco, and has as an object the'provisionof an improvedmethod of and apparatus for such treatment.

As is well known, it is customary for the manufacturer to'receive histobacco packed in hogshead, tierces, cases or-bales,which must be brokendown, and subsequently the individual-bundles and leaves which are .verydry and brittle must re-ordered or Areconditioned so that the tobaccomay be worked.

There is a very substantial loss of vvaluable tobacco .in breaking downthe .hogsheads or bales, duc to the fact that the tobacco is exceedinglydry and brittle, and is packed in a very compact mass. Moreover, thelabor required or this operation is a very consider- -able item ofexpense.

An object of' the present invention is to provide a method and apparatuswhich will render unnecessary such 4handling of the tobacco while dry,and to enable the manufacturer to re-condition or re-orderthe tobacco inbulk, i. e., while arranged in a compact mass, either as a wholehogshead, tierce, or bundle, or as any section of the same. In otherwords, the present invention seeks to provide a practicable andeflicient method and apparatus for re-ordering or re-conditioningtobacco before the entire hogshead or case is broken down, therebyeliminating the necessity for handling the dry tobacco, and avoiding theconsequent destruction of a substantial portion of the tobacco.

The method and apparatus is useful for the treatment of whole 'cases orhogsheads or one or more sections of a hogshead or case, it beingunderstood that each individual section will constitute a compact orpacked mass of dried tobacco, which must be re-ordered or reconditioned,and for this purpose, is thus treated in bulk, or in other words, as apacked mass.

A further object of the invention is to accomplish the re-ordering ofthe tobacco without the use of excessivev heat or pressure, which willdarken and destroy certain grades of tobacco.

Our method comprises, broadly, the arranging of a packed mass oftobacco, which may be either the contents of an entire hogshead or case,or an entire bundle, or one or more sections of the same, and thesubjection of the packed mass for a suitable period, to the action of aconditioning agent, suchas warm vapor. This is accomplished without'theuse ofhigh'heat and pressure, bypassing the agent through the mass byvmeans of apositive draught, induced preferably 'by "suction, A Durlngthe passage of the agent through the therethrough, this means being asuitable suction, which is directed'through the Inassvby means of asuction head positioned thereover. The lower side of the mass ispreferably free and unobstructed, so that the vapor or other treatingagent may be drawn upwardly through the mass and bundles and leaves atthe bottom ofthe mass fall freely therefrom as they are suitablymoistened.

The conditioning agent, preferably a mixture of steam and air, may besupplied to a suitable mixing chamber beneath the mass, and by means ofthe suction drawnupwardly therethrough. It will be understood that anysuitable form of apparatus may be employed for carrying outthis method,and in order to make the method entirely clear, and also to illust-ratea preferred form of apparatus, there is illust-rated in the accompanyingdrawings, an apparatus embodying the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the closure for the tobaccomass.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the follower cone 22.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken through the air and vapor conveyingpipe 35, 36.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional viewof a modified form of followertaken on substan- 25 through 65 formed of two telescoping sectionsReferrinor to the drawings for a more detailed Qdescrip'tfoii llrinditesaisuetion h'e'fd or chamber-supported bynieans adapted "to adjust thehead vertically, such as cables 11,

qonnectedito fi-,hook- '12', carried-bye suitable;

hoisting chain 13g-tlie latter being operated from any suitablehoist-ing means (not shown). The head is adapted to serve as a liftingcap andpaifi'al closure for 'a packed 10 mass 14 (Figure 2) of tobacco.This mass, in

the present instance, isj illustrated asVA the "ehtire bulk removed fromahogshead, but it 'will ,understood lthat' vch showing liis VneielyIillustrat'iveiiY and thef invention [contemplates the treatment 'of:anyf'p'aclred' mass,

i: sliould'be of) suiicieiitipwerto create a sue- V`tion capable ofraising the tobacco mass when lthe'suction lieadis'liftedto hoisttliechain 13.

Inorder to direct the suction thi'oughithe `iiias's, awall v20, in theo'i'mof alexible cui"- "tai'ii, -extends from' the '.hea'd downwardlyaround the mass, and its lower A'end'rnay be weighted as ;at 21, 'tocause. tliesa'inev to' lit 'within a 'follo'weif22, wliicli,'when themass -is ,'r0uiid,v maj/,bein the form of a truncated corne, serving toreceive the bottom of'ithe 40 mass and the cii'rtainQl. The cone islionne/d of two substantially semi-.circular Vsections -25, 26, :(Fig.3), lingedly connected at'27 and having their other ends detach'alilyfastened 'j together by securing bolts extending through juxtaposed endl'lzuiges 2T. The entire follower issupported by means of cables :2Sconiiected to lugs 22', and lthe cables extend up- Ywardly'over pulleys29, and carry a counterweight 30, which'. automatically maintains thecone in' sealing 'engagement with thebottoin of the tobacco mass and thewall 2O at the .bottom ofthe mass.A Since Ythis, wall is of flexiblematerial, it conforms readily to' the transverse dimensions of the mussland should the mass constitute sep'ai'at'e'sections `ol-abale or case,it will seal the joint betweeirthe see- 'tions, thus causing thesue-tion to be exerted entirely through the body of the entire mass.

The curtain 20 extends through "the follower, and its lower end fitsaround an upwardly flaring exte sioii 33 o'j mixing chamber 34, which isin the form of a substantially circular and tjunc'o-ccnical boxcommunicating witli'a lateral-ly disposed .')ipe 35,36, the

former section being united and movable with the distributing-box andthelatterbeing rigidly' mounted. The"distributing box and pipe aresupported by legs 37, one leg 37 having ahoriz'ontal hinged-portion 88,lwhich may 4o e. raisedoutof interj ering position whenitheboxisireinoyed laterally to permit a fresh mass to be placed in positionfor conditioning. rEhe bottom-of the distributing box is open as at 39,and below the same is lposi'tined a suitable conveyor 40, having side:guaidsfll serving to ,dii-ect, portions ofthe vmass' to the conveyor,las' they drop downwa rd ly,' `and such' portions are automaticallyremoved by the conveyor.

"The 'conditioning agent is 45,V and a gage 46 in communicationtherewith.

The air and steaintrav'elthrouglilthefpipe' to thex134 and inthe"latt`er aresuitably mixed. lt should be 1understood that the Asteamand air will be under comparatively low pressure,` andthe vapormixturfe,`wliich is a suitableconditioningagent, is drawnupwardlythrough thefsuspended mass. After suchA treatment for 4acomparatively short period, port-ions of the' mass will begin to-besuitably moistened oi reconditioned, and, the mass supported' describedwill separate from the bottom of the mass, gravitat'ing 'to the conveyor40 through the follower 22,

distributing box 34,'and the open bottom' 39 of the latter. It will beunderstood, of course,

that the invention is not limited to this specie manner of progressivelyreinovinv the conditioned portions of the ina-ss there roin. Preferably,the action of gravity is employed to permit the conditioned leaves todrop freely, and it may be found in the practice of the method withtli-eapparatus disclosed1 that it will'be some times desirable to loosenthe conditioned leaves manually or otherwise. is the mass begins todecrease in size, the Seal at the lower end 01"' the latter will bemaintained, since the couiiterweight 30 will draw the follower cone 22ugwardly'against the curtain wall 20, Vand bottom of the mass.

By treating the tobacco in this inaiiner, it may be i'e-ordered iiibullnor, in other Words, as a compact mass without breaking down theniass'and separating the individual bundles or hands for suchre-fordering while the tobacco is dry, and this is accomplished withoutthe use of high pressure or" heat which will darken andv injure somegrades of tobacco. In other words, the tobacco is treated as a dense, orclosely packed, mass which is the Vcondition in which itis received fromthe admittedthrough the pipe section 36, whiehhas posiltione'd at one'openend a'blower' fai-i142, ar-

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upon one another as in the prior art, nor are Yspacer elements insertedby special packing methods in forming the hogshead-mass. This definitionAof the invention, however, is not to be 4understood as negativing anypreliminary 'Steps, such as the forming of minor holes or the like themasswto facilitate passage of the conditioning agent therethrough,providing such expedients do not destroy the substantial'integrity-anddensity of major portions-ofthe hogshead mass;

1 i In the operation of the apparatus, it will be 20 E understood thatthe mass, whether it be an entire hogshead, or one'or more sections ofthe same, 1s placed under the suction head 10, and the'latte'r is'lowered upon the mass. The

curtain or wall 20 is then dropped over the mass, and the cone follower22 closed and fastenedaround the baseofthe mass outside the curtain. Thevacuum pump 1'5 is started,

,and as lsoon as an-appreciable' vacuum is created, the curtain 20`isdrawn tight against the tobacco."As the diameterA of the cone follower22 is substantially less 'than the di- A"aneter ofthe tobacco at thebase of the saine 'there is formed a tight joint between the follower,curtain 20, and the base of the tobacco, and the only channel throughwhich the pump can receive'p'its supply is through the headlO, thetobacco mass and the cone 22. In other words, the tobacco is, in effect,positioned within a conduit, through which a suction is created, andeffectively closes this conduit s0 that any suction will bel exertedthrough the tobacco mass. As soon as the required vacuum is indicated atthe vacuum gage l5', the tobacco mass may be raised by means ofa hoistchain 13, and the cone 22 will follow the mass upwardly by reason of theautomatic action of the counter-weights connected to the suspendingcables 28. The vapor distributing box 33 may then be moved to positionbeneath the cone 22 by means of the telescopingpipe 35, 36. The blower42 may then be operated, and steam introduced through the inlet 43, thepressure of the steam being regulated by means of the valve 45. In orderto guard against excessive heat or pressure,`a thermometer 36fmay bepositioned within the pipe 35, 36, and any undesirable rise in thetemperature may be regiuated by modifying the speed of the fan or themanual control valve 44 in the steam pipe 44.

As illustrative of the very low temperature at which the tobacco may beconditioned, it has been found that a vapor temperature as low as 909 F.is vsatisfactory when cont-inuously drawn upwardly through the tobaccoby means of t-he suction pump. As the tobacco becomes ordered, theleaves or bundles will detach themselves from the mass at the bottom ofthe latter, and fall upon the conveyor, and although the size of themass will progressively decrease, the same relation of the follower cone22 to the tobacco mass will be maintained by means of the counterweightswhich will maintain the follower against the curtain at the bottom ofthe mass, and the tobacco falling uponthe conveyor wiil be automaticallycarried off.

The operation above described is the same if a portion of a tierce orhogshead instead of the entire bulk is to be re-ordered, and, of course,several sections of the same or different hogsheads or tierces may besimultaneously treated by simply positioning the sections one upon theother in alignment, since the flexible curtain or wall 20 willeffectively close the spaces between the sections, and direct thesuctionthrough the body of the entire massbeing treated.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is illustrated a modified form of followerwhich may be substituted for the cone 22, when the contents of a caseinstead of a hogshead are being treated, since a case is ordinarilyrectangular. This follower comprises two .vertically inclined wallstrips 48, having adjacent its opposite ends, parallel slots 49 whichare inclined to thc vertical to receive wall strips 50, disposed atright angles to the walls 48'. As will be understood, the walls 50 maybe disposed in any one of the slot-s 49, and carry at their lower edgesvertically inclined parallel slots 5l arranged adjacent the oppositeends and into which may fit the bottom ends of the slots 49. As thusconstructed, the transverse dimensions of the follower may be varied asdesired within reasonable limits, depending upon the number of slot-sprovided in each side strip, and thus the follower will conform to amass which is rectangular in cross section, irrespective of thetransverse dimensions of the mass. Such a follower may be supported bycables 28, which are secured to the ends of the walls 48.

1t will be understood that the entire structure may be supported in anysuitable manner, and preferably the conveyor 40 and vapor distributingbox 34, will be positioned below the level of the floor or support forthe tobacco mass when the same is arranged in position'beneath thesuction head 10. With this arrangement, it will not be necessary to movethe vapor box into and out of position by telescoping the pipe sections35, 36, since, as will be understood, the tobacco mass will simply bemoved to position above the vapor box and below the suction head,whereupon the follower may be arranged in position about the bottom ofthe same, and the mass slightly raised by the suction head l0. Or, ifdesired, the entire structure including the vapor box may be supportedabove the floor A fine the invention.

sure or suction.

level as illustrated in F igurezl, in which event it is desirable to-construct and position the vapor boX so that it may be moved frombeneath the follower coneand suction head to enable.l the mass'to beproperly vpositioned preliminary to carrying out the methodv and vagentthrough a mass of`,substa11tially the density received from the-usualhogshead, ir-

-respectiveof whether, the current is directed vertically orhorizontally, or created by pres- .lVhen it is stated in the claims thata positive draft is created, it is intended to cover thisborder aspectof the invention.' un I f 'vWe-:claimz' Y pv l. A'llhemethod of-treatinga prized mass of tobacco in the clo'sclypacked condition it is receivedfrom the usual hogshead, which con- `sists'in subjecting the closelypacked mass for a suitable period to the action of a conditioning agentunder positive draft through the mass, whereby the mass is ordered topermit free handling without breakage.

2. The method of treating a prized mass of tobacco in the closely packedcondition it is received from the usual hogshead, which consists insupporting the closel7 packed mass within a conduit so that the massserves substantially to close said conduit and passing a conditioningagent through said conduit and the entire mass under positive draftwhereby the mass is ordered to permit free handling without breakage.

3. The method of treating a prized mass of tobacco in the closely packedcondition it is received from the usual hogshead, which consists insuspending the closely packed mass by the application of suction,closing the sides of the mass, admitting a conditioning agent to themass and permitting the same to pass through the mass by the action ofsaid suspending suction.

4f. T he method of treating a prized mass of tobacco in the closelypacked condition it is received from the usual hogshead which consistsin subjecting the packed mass to the action of -a conditioning agent fora predetermined period by passing the agent under positive draft throughthe mass and progressively removing portions of the mass as it issubjected to said conditioning agent.

5. The method of treating a prized mass of tobacco in the closelylpacked condition it is received from the usual hogshead which consistsin subjectingthe closely packed mass for a predetermined period to theaction of ay conditioning agent by `-passing the agent `through the massunder positive draft, and

7. An apparatus of the class described-Y comprising means for enclosinga closely packed mass of tobacco in the condition'it is received fromthe usual hogshead, and a common means for supporting said mass and forpassing a conditioning agent therethrough under positive draft. v y

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for enclosing aclosely packed mass of tobacco in the condition it is received from theusual hogshead, and means for pass-A i ing a conditioning agenttherethrough under positive draft, said enclosing means being formed topermit the progressive removal of conditioned portions of the mass, andmeans for adjusting the enclosing means to conform to the size of themassas portions are separated therefrom.

9. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for enclosing aclosely packed mass of tobacco in the conditionit is received from theusual hogshead, common suction means for suspending said mass, and forpositively drawing a conditioning agent therethrough, said enclosingmeans being formed to permit the progressive removal of conditionedportions of the mass, and means for adjusting the enclosing means toconform to the size of the mass as portions are separated therefrom. y

10. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for enclosing aclosely packed mass of tobacco in the condition it is received from theusual hogshead, and means for suspending the mass and for passing aconditioning agent therethrough under positive draft, said enclosingmeans being formed to permit progressive gravitational removal ofconditioned portions from the mass.

l1. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for enclosing aclosely packed mass of tobacco in the condition it is received from theusual hogshead, and means for suspending the mass and for passing aconditioning agent therethrough under positive draft, said enclosingmeans being formed to permit progressive gravitational removal' ofconditioned portions from the mass, :and means adapted to conform theenclosing means to the size of the mass as portions areprogressively-separated therefrom. v

12. An apparatus of the clam described comprising means for enclosing aclosely packed mass of tobacco 'in' the condition it is received fromthe usual hogshead, means for suspending the mass and for passing aconditioning agent therethrough under positive draft, said enclosingmeans being formed to permit progressive gravitational movement ofconditioned portions of the mass, and means adapted automatically toconform the enclosing means to the size of the mass as portions areprogressively separated therefrom.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting a closely packed mass of tobacco, means to enclose the sidesof the mass leaving its bottom exposed, mean-s for delivering aconditioning agent to said enclosing means and against the exposedbottom of the mass whereby conditioncd leaves may fall from the bottomof the mass by gravity, and means to conform said enclosing meansclosely about the mass at its exposed bottom as the mass disintegratesunder the action of the conditioning agent and gravity.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means forsupporting a closely packed mass of tobacco, flexible means to enclosethe sides of the mass leaving its bottom area exposed, means fordelivering a conditioning agent to said flexible enclosing means andagainst the exposed bottom of the mass whereby conditioned leaves mayfall from t-he bottom of the mass by gravity, and means to conform saidflexible enclosing means closely about the mass at its exposed bottom asthe mass disintegrates under the action of the conditioning agent andgravity.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of suctionmeans for supporting from the top a closely packed mass of tobacco,flexible means enclosing the sides of the mass leaving its bottom areaexposed, means for delivering a conditioning agent to said enclosingmeans against the exposed bottom 'of the mass and passing it bysuctionthrough the mass whereby conditioned leaves may fall from the bottom ofthe mass by gravity, conforming means engaging said flexible enclosingmeans closely about the mass at its exposed bottom, and means foradjusting said conforming means longitudinally of the mass as the massdisintegrates under the action of the conditioning agent and gravity.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, a suction head forsupporting from the top a closely packed mass of tobacco, a flexibleenvelope enclosing said mass longitudinallv leaving the bottom area ofthe mass exposed,

means for deliveringa-conditioning agentfto said flexible envelope andaga-inst the exposed bottom of the mass and passing. it by suctionthrough the mass whereby conditioned leaves may fall from the bottomofthe mass by gravity, a conforming frame closely, engaging the flexibleenvelope to conform the envelope to the mass o f tobacco :at'its bottom,and means automatically to move said frame longillldinally of the massas the mass disintegrates under the action of the conditioning agent andgravit-y.

17. In an apparatus of the class described, a suction head forsupporting from the top a closely packed mass of tobacco, a flexibleenvelope enclosing said mass longitudinally leaving the bottom area ofthe mass exposed, means for delivering a conditioning agent to saidflexible envelope and against the exposed bottom of the mass and passingit by suction through the mass whereby conditioned leaves may fall fromthe bottom of the mass by gravity, a conforming frame having inclinedWalls closely engaging the flexible envelope to conform the envelope tothe mass of tobacco at its bottom, and means automatically to move saidframe longitudinally of the mass as the mass disintegrates under theaction of the conditioning agent and gravity.

1S. In an apparatus of the class described, a suction head forsupporting from the top a closely packed mass of tobacco, a flexibleenvelope enclosing said mass longitudinally leaving the bottom area ofthe mass exposed, means for delivering a conditioning agent to saidflexible envelope and against the exposed bottom of the mass and passingitby suction through the mass, whereby conditioned leaves may fall fromthe bottom of the mass by gravity, a conforming frame closely engagingthe flexible envelope to conform the envelope to the mass of tobacco atits bottom, means automatically to move said frame longitudinally of themass as the mass disintegrates und-er the action of the conditioningagent and gravity, and means for adjusting said conforming ring to thetransverse area of the mass.

19. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a suctionhead to support from the top a closely packed mass of tobacco, aflexible envelope having an open bottom depending from said head andenclosing the mass of tobacco, means for delivering a conditioning agentto the open bottom of said flexible envelope against the exposed bottomof the mass and passing it by suction through the mass whereby theconditioned leaves may fall from the bottom of the mass by gravity, andmeans for conforming said flexible envelope closely about the Wall ofthe mass at its bottom.

20. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a suctionhead to support from the top a closely packed mass of tobacco,

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a flexible envelope. having an open bottom declosely about the wall ofthe muss at its bot- 1o pending from said head and enclosing the tom,and means automatically to move said mass of tobacco, means fordelivering a conconforming means longitudinally of the mass ditioningagent to the open bottom of said as the mass disintegrates under theaction of 5 flexible envelope against the exposed bottom theconditioning agent and gravit-y.

of the mass and passing it by suction through In testimony whereof wehave hereunto set 15 the ina-ss whereby the conditioned leaves may ourhands. fall from the bottom of the mass by gravity, WILLIAM MILLIGAN.means for conforming said flexible envelope WILEY E. PALMER.

